Material handling apparatus



Dec. 19, 1967 DQF. PRzYBYLsKl 3353359 MATERIA HANDLING APPARATUS lFiled March 5, 1966 FIGI INVENTOR DANIEL E PRZYBYLSKI BY WM ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,358,859 MATERIA HANDLING APPARATUS Daniel F. Przybylski, Winona, Minn., assignor to The Warner Swasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed llvar. 3, 196, Ser. No. 531,540 11 Claims. (Cl. 214-138) ABSTRACT GF THE DISCLOSURE The material handling apparatus includes a link member by which a dipper stick is pivotally connected to one end of a boom member supported on a base. The dipper stick is pivotally connected at an intermediate area to the link by a pin connection and a reciprocable power member is pivotally connected to an end of the dipper stick and operates to pivot the link member and dipper stick as a unit about the end of the boom member in performing a work operation. The dipper stick can be adjusted angularly relative to the link member about the pin connection by the reciprocable power member and which changes the lever arm of the dipper stick and in turn changes the speed and power characteristics of the dipper stick. A pin locks the dipper stick to the link member after the desired adjustment is made so that they pivot as a unit upon actuation of the reciprocable power means.

The present invention relates to a material handling apparatus, such as a backhoe, having a dipper stick pivotally mounted on the end of a boom, and particularly relates to a material handling apparatus having a dipper stick pivotally mounted on the end of a boom so that the speed and power of the dipper stick may be varied.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved material handling apparatus having a boom member and a dipper stick pivotally carried on the outer end of the boom member and pivoted relative thereto by a hydraulic power means and including a simple, economical, mechanical connection between the boom and dipper stick which is readily adjustable to vary the distance between the pivot axis for the dipper stick and the location at which the force is applied for pivoting the dipper stick so as to thereby vary the speed and power of the dipper Stick.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and irnproved material handling apparatus having a dipper stick pivotally connected to a boom member 'by link means and pivotable relative to the dipper stick between different settings to provide different speed and power for the dipper stick by establishing different angular relationships between the link means and the dipper stick and maintaining the selected angular relationship.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved material handling apparatus having a dipper stick pivotally connected to a boom member by a link member and wherein power means are connected to the dipper stick to effect pivotal movement of the dipper stick relative to the boom member and wherein the link member is pivotally connected to the boom member and dipper stick and provides for adjustment of the dipper stick relative thereto to change the distance between the pivotal connection of the link member to the boom member and the pivotal connection of the power means to the dipper stick thus changing the moment arm of the force for moving the dipper stick.

A still further object of the present invention s the provision of a new and improved boom, as in the next preceding paragraph, wherein the power means which is operative to pivot the dipper stick relative to the boom member is also effective to move the first boom member relative to the link member to effect the adjustment of the moment arm.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved material handzling apparatus having a dipper stick pivotally connected to a boom member by a link member and wherein power means are connected to the dipper stick to effect pivotal movement of the dipper stick relative to the boom member and wherein the link member is pivotally connected to the boom member and dipper stick and provides for adjustment of the dipper stick relative thereto to change the distance between the pivotal connection of the link member to the boom member and the end of the dipper stick thus changing the lever arm of the dipper stick.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a material handling apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the material handling apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating parts thereof in particular positions; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the parts in different positions.

The present invention provides a new material handling apparatus having a boom member carrying a dipper stick and in which the force applied by the dipper stick .in the course of a material handling operation, such as digging, can be varied to provide a power stroke wherein maximum force is applied to the material and a speed stroke wherein minimum force is applied to the material with maximum speed, and to intermediate relationships of power to speed as dictated by the nature of the work to be performed by the apparatus. The force applied by the dipper stick and the speed of operation thereof can be changed by varying the distance between the pivotal axis of the dipper stick and the pivotal connection between the dipper stick and a reciprocating power means which pivots the dipper stick.

The drawings illustrate the preferred embodimcnt of the present invention and specifically illustrates a material handling apparatus 9 commonly referred to as a backhoe. The apparatus 9 comprises a boom structure 10 supporting a bucket 12 at the free end thereof which performs a digging operation. A suitable hydraulic motor 13 is connected to move the bucket in a conventional manner to effect a digging operation. The boom structure 10 is supported on a suitable support 14 which support preferably is a turntable carried by a vehicle and rotatable about a Vertical axis to effect swinging of the bucket 12 in a generally horizontal direction. The boom structure 10 is pivotally connected to the support 14 for movement in a Vertical direction about a horizontal axis provided by a pivotal connection 16. The Vertical swinging of boom structure 10 about connection 16 is accomplished in the preferred embodimcnt by a reciprocating hydraulic other end to the boom structure 10'.

The boom structure 10 comprises a main boom member 20 and a second boom member in the form of a dipper stick 22. The dipper stick 22 and the main boom member 20 are pivotally interconnected by a linkage means 24. The linkage means 24 supports the dipper stick 22 for pivotal movement relative to the end of boom member 20 by a reciprocating type hydraulic motor 28.

The motor 28 includes a cylinder 30 and piston rod 34. The cylinder 30 is connected to the boom member 20 by a pivotal connection 32 including a pin member 33 passing through openings in spaced bearing plates connected to the boom member 20 and an opening in a trunnion securcd to the cylinder. The piston rod 34 reciprocates in cylinder 30 and is pivotally connected at its -free end to one end of the dipper stick 22 by a pivotal connection 36 which, like connection 32, includes a pin 37 extending through spaced openings provided in the dipper stick 22 and an opening in a trunnion secured to the free end of the piston rod. Reciprocation of the piston rod 34 in the cylinder 30 pivots the dipper stick 22 in a Vertical plane relative to boom 20 through linkage means 24.

The linkage means 24 supports the dipper stick 22 for Vertical movement relative to boom member 20 about a horizontal axis and in addition provides for adjusting the angular relationship between the dipper stick 22 and the linkage means 24 to vary the force applied by the dipper stick 22 and effect changes in the speed-power characteristics thereof. The linkage means 24 includes a pair of elongated link members 38 which are similar in construction and only one of which is shown. The link members 38 are pivoted to the boom member 20 at one of their respective ends by a pin 40 which passes through openings provided in the one end of the link members 38 and openings provided in the outboard end of the boom member 20. The link members 38 are also pivotally connected to the dipper stick 22 at a location intermediate their ends by a pin 42 which extends through aligned openings in the link members 38 and an opening provided in the dipper stick 22. The pin 40 provides a pivotal connection for pivoting the dipper stick 22 relative to boom member 20 about a horizontal axis and the pin 42 provides for pivoting movement of the dipper stick 22 relative to the link members 38 about a horizontal axis.

The adjustment of the dipper stick 22 relative to the link members 38 can be effected by the motor 30. The motor 30 if energized when the dipper stick is free to pivot about the axis of pin 42 and pin 40 effects a change in the angular relationship of the dipper stick and the links 38. The motor 30 when so energized effects movement of the links 38 about the axis of pin 40 and also effects movement of the dipper stick 22 about the horizontal axis provided by pin 42. This combination of movements changes the angular relationship between the dipper stick 22 and the link members 38 and the distance between pins 37 and 40 and between the pins 40 and the bucket supporting end of the dipper stick. Varying the distance between pins 37 and 40 changes the lever arm of the dipper stick 22 by shifting the dipper stick relative to the lever arm fulcrum, which is pin 40. When the maximum lever arm designated as X in FIG. 2 is provided by adjusting the dipper stick 22 relative to link members 38, the dipper stick 22 moves with maximum power and at minimum speed. Adjusting the dipper stick 22 to provide the minimum lever arm X' shown in FIG. 3 would provide for maximum speed of operation of the dipper stick 22 with minimum power. Adjusting the dipper stick 22 to set the lever arm at positions intermediate the maximum and minimum limits would provide intermediate relationships between the speed and power characteristics of the dipper stick. It should be apparent that providing maximum lever arm X provides minimum distance between pin 40 and the bucket supporting end of the dipper stick and minimum lever arm X' provides maximum distance therebetween since the entire lever arm shifts relative to the fulcrum.

Once the desired speed-power relationship of the dipper stick 22 has been established this relationship is maintained by locking the dipper stick 22 to the link 'members 38. This looking is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by providing pin receiving apertures or openings 44 in the ends of link members 38 opposite the ends thereof which are connected to the boom member 20 and which openings are axially alignable with a plurality of pairs of axially aligned openings provided in a pair of plates 43 fixed to the top side of the dipper stick 22. Five such pairs of openings numbered 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54 are provided in plates 43 and define five different operative speed-power settings. When the dipper stick 22 is adjusted so as to align a selected pair of openings in plates 43 with the openings 44 in the link members 38, a pin 56 is insertable through these four axially aligned openings and fixes the dipper stick 22 to the link members in a selected operative setting. The maximum power setting of the dipper stick 22 is illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings and is accomplished by aligning openings 46 with openings 44. The maximum speed setting of the dipper stick 22 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and is the position in which the openings 54 at the extreme right end of plates 43 as viewed in the drawings are aligned with openings 44 in link members 38 and are secured by inscrting pin 56 therethrough. When one of the intermediate pairs of openings 48, 50, 52 are aligned with openings 44 in link members 38, the relationship of speed to power is accordingly changed from either maximum setting. For example, inserting the pin 56 through openings 44 and 48 would provide less power than the maximum power setting shown in FIG. 2 but the dipper stick would operate at a greater speed than in the setting of FIG. 2. Further, adjusting the boom so that openings 50 or 52 in plates 43 are aligned with openings 44 in members 38 provides decreased power and increased speed of operation relative to the setting provided by opening 48.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the present invention provides for varying the speed and power characteristics of a boom member by adjusting the member angularly relative to a link which pivotally connects the boom member to a support boom member and locking the boom member in the selected adjusted position. This adjustment varies the lever arm of the force applied to the boom member and the specific details of the adjustment of the lever arm as described above may be used in providing for the adjustment of any lever arm where adjustment thereof is desired.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in considerable detail the invention is not to be considered to be limited to the precise construction shown. My intention is to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications, and uses of the material handlng apparatus shown which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I clairn:

1. In a material handlng apparatus, a boom member, a support member pivotally connected at one end of said boom 'member for movement about a first axis, a dipper stick connected to said support member for bodily movement relative thereto, looking means for looking said dipper stick and support member in predetermined relative positions for movement as a unit about said first axis and releasable to provide for relative movement between said dipper stick and support member, and power means pivotally connected to said dipper stick at a force application location spaced from said first axis and operable to efiect movement of said support member and dipper stick as a unit about said first axis and operable to effect movement of said dipper stick relative to said support member with the distance between said first axis and said force application location varying upon relative movement between said support member and said dipper stick.

2. A material handlng apparatus as defined in clam 1 where in said dipper stick is pivotally connected to said support member for movement about a second axis spaced from said first axis, and wherein said power means effects pivoting movement of dipper stick relative to said support member.

3. A material handlng apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said support member includes a link member and said means for locking said support member and dipper stick comprises a part movable with said dipper stick and fixed thereto and means interconnecting said link member and said part to prevent relative movement therebetween When said link member and said dipper stick are in a selected angular predetermined relationship and disconnectable to permit relative movement between said dipper stick and link member about said second aXis.

4. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said locking means comprises part of said support member and part of said dipper stick, a plurality of pin receiving openings in one of said parts and selectively alignable with a pin receiving opening in the other part to establish a predetermined angular relationship therebetween and a pin received in said aligned pin receiving openings to lock said support member and said dipper stick in said selected predetermined angular relationship.

5. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said openings in said parts are each spaced the same distance from the pivotal connection between said support member and said dipper stick.

6. A material handling mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said power means is operable to effect alignment of a selected one of said plurality of pin receiving openings in said one of said parts With said pin receiving opening in the said other parts when said support member and dipper stick are free for relative movement about said second axis.

7. In a material handling apparatus, first and second boom members cooperable to effect movement of a material handling tool carried by one of said boom members, a link member pivotally connected to said first boom member and to said second boom member about first and second spaced aXes respectively, reciprocable power means pivotally connected to said second boom member about a third axis and said second boom member which is spaced from said second axis and operable to pivot said second boom member about said first axis, connecting means interconnecting said link member and said second boom member to maintain a predetermined fixed distance between said first and third axis, said connecting means being adjustable to vary the distance between said first and third axis.

8. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said connecting means comprises part of said link member and part of said second boom member, one

of said parts having a plurality of pin receiving openings alignable with a pin receiving opening in the other of said parts by operation of said power means.

9. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said pin receiving openings in said parts are spaced an equal distance from the pivotal connection between said link member and said second boom member.

10. In an apparatus, a support, a boom member, a link member pivotally connected to said support and to said boom member and supporting said boom member for pivotal movement relative to said support about first and second axes said link member supporting said boom member for adjustment relative to said link member about said second aXis to establish a predetermined angular relationship between said boom member and said link member, locking means interconnecting said link member and said boom member to maintain said link member and said boom member in a selected predetermined angular relationship and disconnectable to permit adjustment of said predetermined angular relationship, said locking means comprises part of said link member and a part movable with said boom member, and means locking said parts to prevent relative movement therebetween when said link member and said boom member are in a selected predetermined angular relationship and releasable to allow for relative movement of said link member and boom member about said second axis.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 further including power means for moving said boom member and link member about said first axis and when said parts are locked together and operable to adjust said boom member relative to said link member about said second axis when said parts are free for relative movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,430,542 10/1922 French 214-138 1,703,063 2/1929 Dorward.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,157,133 12/1957 France.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS, A BOOM MEMBER, A SUPPORT MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END OF SAID BOOM MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIRST AXIS, A DIPPER STICK CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR BODILY MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, LOCKING MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID DIPPER STICK AND SUPPORT MEMBER IN PREDETERMINED RELATIVE POSITIONS FOR MOVEMENT AS A UNIT ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS AND RELEASABLE TO PROVIDE FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID DIPPER STICK AND SUPPORT MEMBER, AND POWER MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID DIPPER STICK AT A FORCE APPLICATION LOCATION SPACED FROM SAID FIRST AXIS AND OPERABLE TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND DIPPER STICK 